Nanaimo bird report, December 30, 2018:

 A Fieldfare has been seen in Salmon Arm. A Fieldfare, spotted only once before in British Columbia, has been seen by many birders near the corner of Krick Road and Kernaghan Road in Salmon Arm. The Fieldfare breeds in the eastern part of Russia, but migrates towards  Western Europe.  It likely got blown off course by a big storm and found his way down the Alaska-B.C. coast.  A Fieldfare was spotted in B.C. only once before, in December 2003, near Pitt Meadows. 

Christmas Bird Count, Nanaimo, December 29, 2018
Seventy birders saw a total of one hundred and thirteen species!

Friday, December 28:
A Northern Shrike, a Coopers Hawk, twelve American Goldfinch, a large number of Dark-eyed Juncos, two Spotted Towhees, huge flocks of Brewers Blackbirds & Red Winged Blackbirds, four California Quail, seven Northern Flickers, a male and female Downy Woodpecker and two Pileated Woodpeckers, as well as five feisty Anna’s Hummingbirds are visiting several backyard feeders along Meridian Way in Parksville. 

Sunday, December 23:

A Nashville Warbler was seen
at the intersection of Grilse Road and Tyee Crescent in Nanoose Bay.

Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Sunday Bird Walk on January 06, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on January 08, 2019 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at Rathtrevor Park main parking lot at about 9:10 am. 

Good birding

Neil Robins

A Happy New Year from all of us at 
THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD& NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo, B.C. 

V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669
Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Nanaimo bird report, December 23, 2018:

Bird Walk, December 23, 2018

With all the wind and rain storms this week, for safety sake,  we  decided to cancel the Sunday bird walk to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.   We will try Neck Point again on January 6, 2019.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, Columbia Beach, December 18, 2018.  

The rains & winds let up and the Tuesday bird walk finally got to go to Columbia Beach in French Creek. The morning was sunny and with calm winds off the Strait of Georgia. We did have a few light showers near the end of the walk.  A Brandt’s Cormorant, four Rhinoceros Auklets, several Ancient Murrelets, a large flock of Western Grebe and  many Common Murre were seen on the Strait.  Eight Black-bellied Plovers, four Black Oystercatchers, many Dunlin and several Black Turnstones were seen on the gravel bar.  A Cooper’s Hawk and a Sharp-shinned Hawk were seen near French Creek. A Bewick’s Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and seven Golden-crowned Kinglets, several American Robins, three Varied Thrush and a Cedar Waxwing were seen in the bushes near the Creek.

Rhinoceros Auklet  

Fifteen birders including a young visiting birder from California saw and heard the following sixty-two species:

Canada Geese

Brant

Harlequin Duck

American Wigeon

Mallard

Surf Scoter 

 White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead 

 Common Goldeneye

                                                 Barrow’s Goldeneye 

Common Merganser 

 Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon
Common Loon

 Horned Grebe

 Red-necked Grebe
 Western Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

 Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Rhinoceros Auklet

Ancient Murrelet

Common Murre

 Bald Eagle

Coopers Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Black-bellied Plover

 Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

 Black Turnstone

 Mew Gull

 California Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Iceland Gull

Herring Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull 

 Rock Pigeon 

Great Blue Heron
 European Starling

Northern Flicker

 Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Anna’s Hummingbird

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

 American Robin

Varied Thrush

                                                           Cedar Waxwing

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

 Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch

House Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Golden-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Sunday Bird Walk on January 06, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on January 08, 2019 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at Rathtrevor Park main parking lot at about 9:10 am. 

Good birding

                                                            Neil Robins

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at 

              THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD& NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo, B.C. 

V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669
Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Bird Walk, December 23, 2018

Bird Walk, December 23, 2018

The Sunday bird walk, December 23, 2018 to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo

has been cancelled due to the weather! 

We will try again on January 06, 2019

Merry Christmas from all of us at the Birdstore!

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 18, 2018

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, Columbia Beach, December 18, 2018.  

The rains & winds let up and the Tuesday bird walk finally got to go to Columbia Beach in French Creek. The morning was sunny and with calm winds off the Strait of Georgia. We did have a few light showers near the end of the walk.  A Brandt’s Cormorant, four Rhinoceros Auklets, several Ancient Murrelets, a large flock of Western Grebe and  many Common Murre were seen on the Strait.  Eight Black-bellied Plovers, four Black Oystercatchers, many Dunlin and several  Black Turnstones were seen on the gravel bar.  A Cooper’s Hawk and a Sharp-shinned Hawk were seen near French Creek. A Bewick’s Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and seven Golden-crowned Kinglets, several American Robins, three Varied Thrush and a Cedar Waxwing were seen in the bushes near the Creek.

Rhinoceros Auklet

Fifteen birders including a young visiting birder from California saw and heard the following sixty-two species:

Canada Geese

Brant

Harlequin Duck

American Wigeon

Mallard

Surf Scoter 

 White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead 

 Common Goldeneye

Barrow’s Goldeneye 

Common Merganser 

 Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon
Common Loon

 Horned Grebe

 Red-necked Grebe

 Western Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

 Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Rhinoceros Auklet

Ancient Murrelet

Common Murre

 Bald Eagle

Coopers Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Black-bellied Plover

 Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

 Black Turnstone

 Mew Gull

 California Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Iceland Gull

Herring Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull 

 Rock Pigeon 

Great Blue Heron
 European Starling

Northern Flicker

 Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Anna’s Hummingbird

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

 American Robin

Varied Thrush

                                                                   Cedar Waxwing

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

 Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch

House Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Golden-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Sunday Bird Walk on December 23, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on January 08, 2019 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at Rathtrevor Park main parking lot at about 9:10 am. 

Good birding

                                                                       Neil Robins

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD& NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo, B.C. 

V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669
Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report Nanaimo Bird Report, December 16, 2018. BIRD REPORT“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING: To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us  at thebackyard@shaw.ca. Please remember, when reporting a sighting  to leave your name and phone number along with the date the species  was seen and location of your sighting. Please Note Please check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday  and Sunday mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled! ********************************************************************************Sunday Bird Walk, December 16, 2018 The Sunday bird walk, December 16, 2018 to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo  has been cancelled due to the weather!

************************************************************************************* The Tuesday Bird Walk, December 11, 2018 The Tuesday  bird walk, December 11, 2018 to Columbia Beach in Nanaimo  was cancelled due to the weather! Tuesday, December 11: Double-crested Cormorants, Mallards, Common Mergansers,  Blue-wing Teal, Canada Geese, White-crowned Sparrows,  Bufflehead, Spotted Towhee, dark-eyed Juncos, song Sparrows,  Northwestern Crows, Belted Kingfisher and Red-necked Grebes  were seen at Columbia Beach and French Creek. The Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be held on,  Saturday December 29th, 2018. For more information: Please contact Tanya Seebacher tanyaseebacher@gmail.com 250-739-9070              Upcoming Bird Walks The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 18, 2018 will be going to Columbia Beach I n French Creek. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club  playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking area along  Admiral Tryon Bld. off Columbia Drive at French Creek at about 9:15 am.                                      The Sunday Bird Walk on December 23, 2018 will be going to  Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store,  6314 Metral Drive at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at Neck Point Park  off Hammond Road at about 9:15 am.                            Good birding Neil Robins THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE 6314 Metral Drive Nanaimo, B.C. V9T-2L8 Phone: 250-390-3669 Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

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Bird walk Cancelled

Sunday Bird Walk, December 16, 2018

The Sunday bird walk, December 16, 2018 to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo has been cancelled due to the weather!

Neil Robins
THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo B.C.V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633
Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count

It’s Christmas Bird Count Season! 

Every year since 1900, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists go out on an annual mission - to count birds. Many organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations and to help guide conservation action (https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count).

The count covers 24 hours, midnight to midnight, but most field counters participate from dawn to dusk. You do not have to be an expert birder to help with this vital citizen science project. If you’d like to learn about birds and meet other birders, you are encouraged to participate.

The CBC date this year or Nanaimo is: Saturday, DECEMBER 29 (organizer: Tanya Seebacher; tanyaseebacher@gmail.com)

Anyone can join alone or as a group, and you will be assigned to a team led by an experienced birder. All you need is binoculars, love of the outdoors in any weather, and a keenness to learn.

Each count includes a wrap-up at the end of the day where food can be purchased (Days Inn Nanaimo), and you hear stories and you can learn what everyone has counted.

For those wishing to participate in the Christmas Bird feeder count, we will have the check- list paper work available at the store.

Tuesday Bird Walk, December 11, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk, December 11, 2018 to Columbia Beach in French Creek was cancelled due to the weather!

Upcoming Bird Walks

The Sunday Bird Walk on December 16, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at Neck Point Park off Hammond Road at about 9:15 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 18, 2018 will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking area along Admiral Tryon Bld. off Columbia Drive at French Creek at about 9:15 am.

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD &; NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo B.C.V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669

Fax: 250-390-1633

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

 www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday bird walk is cancelled

Tuesday Bird Walk, December 11, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk, December 11, 2018 to Columbia Beach in French Creek has been cancelled due to the weather!

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo B.C.V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669

Fax: 250-390-1633

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Nanaimo bird report, December 09, 2018

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report Nanaimo Bird Report, December 09, 2018. BIRD REPORT“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING: To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca. Please remember, when reporting a sighting to leave your name and phone number along with the date the species was seen and location of your sighting. Please Note Please check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled! ********************************************************************************Sunday Bird Walk, December 09, 2018 The Sunday bird walk, December 09, 2018 to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo has been cancelled due to the weather!

************************************************************************************* Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 04, 2018 The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary. The morning was clear with calm winds on the Strait of Georgia. This bird walk turned out to be a whale of a walk as we were entertained for most of the morning with the sight of the whales breaching and blowing. There where were at least five Humpback Whales. Many Green-wing Teal, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Red-necked Grebes, Horned Grebes, Brandt’s Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants, Double-crested Cormorants, Pacific and  Pacific Loons were on the Strait. Over two hundred Trumpeter Swans, six Snow Geese, a large flock of Canada Geese and one Cackling Geese were seen at the mouth of the Little Qualicum River. Three Lone-billed Dowitchers, a flock of Killdeer and many Black Turnstone were seen on the estuary. A large flock of Western Grebe were seen near the far horizon at the end of the walk. Trumpeter Swans: Ralph Hocken Photo: Twenty-one birders including a visiting birder from California saw and heard the following fifty-five species: Trumpeter Swans Canada Geese Cackling Geese Snow Geese Mallard Harlequin Duck American Widgeon Northern Pintail Long-tail Duck Surf Scoter White-wing Scoter Black Scoter Bufflehead Barrow’s Goldeneye Common Goldeneye Northern Pintail Green-wing Teal Red-breasted Merganser Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Western Grebe Red-necked Grebe Horned Grebe Brandt’s Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Pacific Loon Common Loon Great Blue Heron Bonaparte’s Gull Mew Gull Iceland Gull California Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Bald Eagle Lone-billed Dowitcher Killdeer Black Turnstone Northern Flicker Downy Woodpecker Northwestern Crow Common Raven California Quail Eurasian-collared Dove American Robin Bushtit Chestnut-backed Chickadee Anna’s Hummingbird Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco House Finch Purple Finch Wednesday, December 02: A Harris Sparrow, six Western Meadowlarks and a Northern Harrier were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.  The Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be held on, Saturday December 29th, 2018. For more information: Please contact Tanya Seebacher tanyaseebacher@gmail.com 250-739-9070              Upcoming Bird Walks The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 11, 2018 will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking area along Admiral Tryon Bld. off Columbia Drive at French Creek at about 9:15 am.                                                                  The Sunday Bird Walk on December 16, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at Neck Point Park off Hammond Road at about 9:15 am. Good birding Neil Robins THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE 6314 Metral Drive Nanaimo, B.C. V9T-2L8 Phone: 250-390-3669 Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com